GOING, GOING...GONE! - border officials crush Sheffield smuggle van

THIS was the moment a van used in a failed people-smuggling bid was crushed into a pile of twisted metal by the UK Border Agency.

The vehicle was used by two criminals who attempted to bring nine Kuwaiti men through Hull Docks.

Tarik Mohammed and Mohamed Ghafil Al-Kulefi, both from Sheffield, were jailed for a total of 11 years after pleading guilty to nine counts of people smuggling.

Now the Ford van the pair bought from a dealer in Sheffield for £1,940 has been crushed.

It was seized after Border Force officers foiled the smuggling attempt, and a confiscation order was made by the judge.

Simon Walker from the UK Border Agency said: “The men involved are serving lengthy prison sentences, and we have now destroyed their criminal assets. We will not hesitate to use our powers to seize and destroy criminal property.”